Why were the Cavaliers unable to put a strong supporting core around LeBron between '03-'10?

I've never really understood how the Cavaliers are currently a massive FA destination (DWill2 , Bogut likely, Love resigned) because they have LeBron. Why wasn't that the case between '03-'10? How come the Front Office wasn't able to put anything remotely resembling a championshop team around LeBron?

[–][OKC] Steven Adamslegendariusss 259 指標 2 天前 

Lebron now is different and also has a much bigger say than he did back then. LeGM is both a meme but not really a joke at the same time

[–]LukeBron[S] 36 指標 2 天前 

Did the Cleveland F/O / Dan Gilbert just not value him at all back then?

[–][OKC] Steven Adamslegendariusss 136 指標 2 天前 

Nah just bad decisions and Lebron not having the same pull in the league that he does now. Sure he was MVP but he wasn't goat calibre and hadn't won shit. FAs are jumping at the Chance to play with him now

[–][NBA] LeBron JamesInterspaceAlien 66 指標 2 天前 

and i think just as important as not being goat caliber yet, he wasnt mature in the way that he is now. i really think one of the big draws for these FA's that want to play with him is the environment that hes able to create by being a great leader. that took time to cultivate.

[–]CavaliersCGracchus 143 指標 2 天前 

Bad FO decisions from "sure we can trust Carlos Boozer" on.

[–][NYK] Qyntel WoodsBlacramento 63 指標 2 天前 

It's crazy that the arguably the Cavs best draft pick from LeBron to the Decision was either Boobie Gibson or Anderson Varejao, both second rounders (another second rounder, Danny Green, had the best career of the three IMO but not with Cleveland)

But the Carlos Boozer debacle, Dejaun Wagner's deteriorating health, and the drafting of Luke Jackson were, in my opinion, the three main catalysts for LeBron's lack of a bonafide supporting cast his first time around

[–][SAS] Tim Duncanrattatatouille 25 指標 2 天前 

The best players from the 2004 Draft were all off the board by the 10th pick which Cleveland had, but they could have picked: Kris Humphries, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, JR Smith (!), Jameer Nelson among others.

[–][POR] Wesley MatthewsOwenRey 75 指標 2 天前 

They tried. Just gave contracts to the wrong people and it didn't work out. Plus the culture of the NBA has changed with people actively trying to play with LeBron now

[–]CavaliersYourMajesty90 83 指標 2 天前* 

Same reason the Kings couldn't put talent around Boogie or Pelicans around AD.

Lebron hadnt proved he had what it took to win championships yet. Not to mention he never had a good coach. Big FA weren't stepping into that situation.

Nowadays Lebron is a 3x Champion and it's a well known fact that he elevates everyone around him to another level.

Also, leading your team(s) to 6 straight finals with a 7th practically in the bag also helps.

Success is very very attractive.

[–]CavaliersGroundhogNight 11 指標 2 天前 

Dan Gilbert bought the team in 05 and LeBron left in 09. So I think that turbulence contributed. Gilbert didn't know much yet about owning an NBA team. We had a not so great GM. We spent money in dumb ways to get old old old free agents and not actual impact players. It's been an incredible difference in the front office, the coach, and the attitude.

[–][SAS] Tim Duncanrattatatouille 58 指標 2 天前 

LeBron got good right away; they only had like two years in the lottery after he joined. The two years they were in the lottery with LeBron had them pick Luke Jackson 10th in 2004 and they didn't have their pick in 2005.

They also did try to bring in talent; they rather notoriously signed Larry Hughes to a big deal which looked fine at the time but looks increasingly dumb now given that Hughes was a ball dominant non shooter. They also passed on a deal to get Amare Stoudemire in 2010 all because they liked JJ Hickson more.

[–][BOS] Marcus Smartgbeckwith 33 指標 2 天前 

They did NOT reject the Hickson for Amare deal, they OFFERED it and the Suns rejected it. This might be the most widespread basketball myth right now.

[–][MIA] Dwyane Wadeinsustainingrain 50 指標 2 天前 

I mean all of the successful early LeBron Cavs teams (07, 09, 10) were top defensive and rebounding teams. They weren't star studded but they weren't awful like r/nba would have you believe either

[–][SAS] Tim Duncanrattatatouille 21 指標 2 天前 

Those early Cavs teams were built like AI's Sixers, come to think of it. They got a veteran defensive big like Ben Wallace and they surrounded their superstar with defenders. The problem was that Cleveland had no offense beyond LeBron and they weren't exactly an elite shooting team.

Today's Cavs aren't as good defensively (they were good last year and this year is a step back defensively) but they have much better shooting nowadays.

[–][GSW] Draymond GreenChubbsDaddy 13 指標 2 天前* 

They are a destination because they won the championship. Deron and bogut both fill a void for the cavs (backup pg and a true center...Tristan is like 6'9 lol). But in reality, ignoring those 2 going there now, its not like theyve been getting free agents out of no where. Lebron brought his miami people. The cavs traded for shump jr and love. Why wouldnt you re-sign with a team destined for the finals?

During the first lebron phase, they drafted poorly and their free agents were old washed up guys that previously were stars (shaq, big ben, jameson), and they didnt pan out. Deron and bogut kinda fit that mold too actually, but the difference is the cavs already have a roster filled with talent due to the period of sucking when lebron left and they got 3 #1 picks (kyrie bennett wiggins) and a couple lottery picks (dion tristan). The front office has done a good job in the shump/jr/korver acquisitions. But besides that its just getting to pick early in the draft multiple times makes a team have talented people. Thats what lebron came back to, and thats why the team has a lot of assets.

If boozer would have stayed then things might have been very different. The fact is those teams WERE good. They just underperformed in the playoffs and the teams that beat them were either *河蟹* (magic) or better (celtics).

[–][CHI] Michael JordanBlackMathNerd 27 指標 2 天前 

Of course they weren't awful.. mainly because LeBron's the best at getting the most out of his talent, and because he's fucking LeBron who I don't think will ever finish under .500 again.

But don't be fooled for a second and think that they had the most quality support around LeBron.

[–][CLE] Kevin Lovequentin-coldwater 17 指標 2 天前 

Name the second best player on each of those teams and tell me with a straight face that any of them isn't worse than the third best player on any championship contender this year.

[–]FriendlyNeighborCIA 19 指標 2 天前 

No, the '06 - '10 were legitimately awful teams without LeBron. Worst in the league level. He anchored them on both ends in 2009 and 2010 as well.

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西布杨

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